(Social) Network Your Way to the Top

Although the rise of social media has proven to be extremely successful and beneficial, it can be a very toxic environment, especially for girls, and even more especially for young girls who already are having a hard time feeling confident, beautiful and loved. The pressure to appear "perfect" on the internet is immensely overwhelming for anyone.

For an organization like LiveGirl, who's entire mission is to help young girls own their power and become confident, there needs to be a deliberate approach when it comes to their own social media presence. LiveGirl decided to redirect the way everyone thinks about social media. I like to call this idea...

"Make Social Media Powerful Again"

Instead of opening Instagram, seeing unrealistic photos of other people and feeling terrible about yourself, LiveGirl provides girls with content that will make them feel like they can conquer the world.

LiveGirl utilizes several popular social network platforms including Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. However, they are definitely the most active on Instagram. Here, they have 4,497 followers. What I like most about LiveGirl's usage of Instagram is that they seem to have a really nice blend of curated content, as well as original content. According to Regina Luttrell, a loose but consistent mixture of curation and creation is the key to content strategy.

In between posts for the company's events, LiveGirl is always sharing inspirational quotes, pop culture news, poetry, fun images, and more! This blend of content makes their account way more successful and user-friendly because users are more likely to interact with posts that they can relate to. If they see a celebrity they like that's promoting body positivity for example, they'll be more likely to comment or share LiveGirl's post because it sparked their interest. They also then will be more likely to check out the organization's events if they hadn't already.

Although LiveGirl's Instagram maintains a more lighthearted feel, the organization definitely ensures that they provide a level of professionalism. Above everything else, LiveGirl and their staff stand as role models for every girl they serve. It's crucial that they are professional at all times, especially on their social media, as they want to prove that social networking can be a tool for success if it's used correctly.

Additionally, if something particularly important is happening in the world, LiveGirl is always quick to share a response or statement on social media. This shows that they are always aware of their impact in society, and are listening and engaging with their users. They care about how worldly occurrences are affecting girls' leadership potential.

I think that LiveGirl is doing a fantastic job keeping up with their social media presence, but there is always room for improvement. From my time working there, I remember some of the staff talking about how they wanted to get more involved with Instagram's promotion features. Also, recently, Instagram added a new "Donation" button that you can add to your stories, that followers can click on and be directed straight to a link or organization in which they can donate. I think that LiveGirl definitely should use this feature much more often, since it can be so helpful for them as they continue to grow their following.